Line justifying mechanism



March 5, 1940. D. A. ROBERTS LINE JUSTIFYING MECHANISM 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 vFiled Oct. 18, 1937 Patented Mar. 5, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT orriea Daniel A. Roberts, Chicago, Ill.

Application October 18, 1937, Serial No. 169,567

7 Claims.

This invention relates to line justifying mechanism for typewriters and other key operated machines, and some of its objects are to simplify devices of this character, to provide a line'justifying device which is easy to manipulate, and to provide a line justifying device which may be readily adapted to typewriters of standard makes and to other key operated machines.

Another object is to provide line justifying means controlled by the usual escapement rack which, in accordance with this invention, may be adjusted lengthwise of the carriage, whereby variable spacing may be obtained between the words of a line, to thereby lengthen or shorten the line to the predetermined length of the lineson the page. Another object is to provide line justifying means whereby the normal spacing between the letters of the words is maintained, and all of the spaces between words of any line may be equally widened or narrowed regardless of the number of spaces in the line, and regardless of how many spaces the line must be lengthened or shortened, whereby to produce lines of equal length.

Typewriters are provided with means for regular releasing movements of the carriage whereby equal spacing of the letters and the spaces between words are maintained throughout thelength of the lines. An escapement rack and an escapement device, cooperating with the rack and operated as a result of the manipulation of the keys or space bar, are ordinarily employed for this purpose and the escapement rack is fixed and moves with the carriage so as to provide a regular spacing of the letters and the spaces between the words in the line. In accordance with the present invention, the escapement rack is adjustable lengthwise of the carriage whereby to increase or decrease the width of the spacing. For instance, if there are eight spaces between the words of a line and the last letter of the line falls one space short of the predetermined length of the line, then with the present device, each space between words is lengthened one-eighth of the regular space, thereby bringing the last letter of the line at the predetermined place.

This invention consists, therefore, in line spacing means employing an escapement rack adjustable lengthwise of the carriage and settable actuating means for adjusting the escapement rack the required distance at each space between words and, if desired, between the letters of the words, whereby the last letter of the line will fall upon the predetermined place. It further consists in means for varying the width of spaces between words, without in any manner changing its spacing between letters as fixed by the usual escapement mechanism. It further consists in setting means, visible to the operator, for accurately setting the adjustment mechanism,

whereby toadjust the position of the escapement rack relative to the typewriter carriage. The invention further consists in the several novel features hereinafter fully set forth and claimed.

The invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a line justifying device embodying a simple form of the present invention and showing it in connection with part of a typewriter carriage and its roller.

Fig. 2 is a central, vertical, longitudinal section of the line justifying device illustrated in Fig. l, the view being upon a greatly enlarged scale.

Fig. 3 is a plan of the setting means.

Fig. 4 is an under plan of a certain division setter employed in the setting means.

Fig. 5 is a plan of the rotor employed in said setting means.

Fig. 6 is a plan of a certain dividing disc employed in the setting means.

Fig. 7 is a face view of a fragment of a work copy which may be used for guidance in rewriting the subject matter. 7

Referring to said drawings, which are merely illustrative of one embodiment of the invention, the reference character l5 designates one end frame of a typewriter carriage of conventional form, upon which is mounted the usual roller l5 having the ordinary knob l6 for turning it, and.

the usual carriage mechanism (not shown). The escapement rack l1, instead of being fixedly secured to the carriage, is slidably mounted on the carriage in any desirable manner. As an example of means for slidably mounting the escapement rack on the carriage, the escapement rack may be slotted lengthwise of itself at both ends, one slot being illustrated at I8, through which slots extend pins or bolts I 8 secured in guides I!) that are rigid with the carriage frame. The slidable connection between the carriage and escapement rack may be changed to suit the particular. typewriter carriage construction upon which the device is used. As is customary, the

pitch or spacing of the teeth of the escapement rack is standard for the particular make of machine equipped with the device and the teeth thereof cooperate with the usual pinion of the escapement wheel 22 or other cooperating escapement means, to permit the carriage to move one space of definite width under the influence of the usual carriage spring (not shown) and as determined by the escapement mechanism. The escapement mechanism and means for actuating the same are not illustrated as they are common and well known and some form thereof is employed in all standard typewriting machines.

With the present invention, the escapement rack can be adjusted lengthwise of the carriage any desired distance so as to lengthen or shorten the standard spacing of the spaces between the words and between the letters, if desired. when the space between words is to be lengthened, the carriage moving spring moves the carriage with its equipment an additional predetermined distance, depending upon the distance the escapement rack has been adjusted relative to the carriage. For instance, if the line contains eight spaces between the words and the line must be lengthened the width of one space, then the escapement rack is adjusted to lengthen each space between words one-eighth part of a whole space. The form of adjusting means illustrated for the escapement rack will now be described, it being understood that the adjusting means is capable of considerable alteration and modification:

Mounted on the carriage, as by screws 23, is a bracket 24 which supports the adjustment mechanism. Movably mounted in forks 25 of the bracket 24 is an escapement rack adjusting member here shown in the form of a spindle 26 which is fixed against rotation as by a pin 21 carried by the spindle and moving through a borein one of the forks. Formed with or rigidly secured to the spindle is an annularly grooved collar or yoke 28 in which is engaged a fork 29 formed as a part of or rigidly attached to an extended part I! of the escapement rack. It will be understood that if the spindle 26 is moved to the right, the escapement rack will be moved exactly the same distance relative to the carriage, thereby bringing about the stopping of the carriage at a place further on when a key or the space bar has been fully depressed. v I

The means shown for slidably moving the spindle 26 comprises a screw thread 30 formed upon the stem portion 3| of the spindle, a bevel pinion 32 having a screw thread 33 formed in its bore and threadedly engaged with thethread 30 of the spindle stem 3|, a bevel pinion 34 meshing'with the bevel pinion 32 and mounted on *a shaft 35 journaledv in a bearing aperture in a bearing member 24 of the bracket 24, and a rotator 36 keyed or otherwise; fastened to the upper end of the shaft35. The bevel pinion 32 is provided with a hollow stub shaft 32 journaled. in one of the forks 25 of the bracket 24 and held against axial movement therein by the hub of the bevel pinion and a-collar 32 rigidly fastened to the hollow shaft 32 ,which hub and collar bear against the opposite faces of the fork 25 in which the shaft is journaled. The pitch of the screw thread 30 is proportional to or corresponds with the width of the spacing permitted by the escapement mechanism and in the embodiment illustrated is exactly the same as the pitch of the teeth 2| of the escapement rack ll whereby one completerevolution of the bevel pinion 32 will advance the spindle 26 and there with the escapement rack iT one tooth or the width of one space between words. The engagey ment of the thread 30 with the thread 33 of the bevel gear 32 acts asa lock to flx the escapement rack to the carriage at any position of adjustment relative thereto.

Desirably, the bevel pinions 32, 34 are mitre pinions, so that it takes one complete revolution of the rotator' to rotate the pinion 32 thrbugh one complete rotation and thereby move the escapement rack a distance equal to the width of a space, thus with one complete rotation of the rotator, either at one time or in short arcs of a circle totaling three hundred sixty degrees, the escapement rack will have been shifted one space with respect to the carriage, thereby enthe number of degrees, the rotator must be 1-0 abling the line which was printed to be extended the width of one space; Obviously, the opera-- tive connections between the rotator and screw may be. altered as m found expedient. Desirably, only thespaces between the words are 3 lengthened to stretch out the line or the spaces a are narrowed .to shorten the line and, therefore, the rotator is partially rotated through the required degree of rotation following the end of each word written or following the pace caused. by the actuation of the space bar after each word has been written to extend or shorten the length of the line the necessary distance.

. vSetting mechanism -'is provided to guide the attendant in adjusting the escapement rack so 1'5 as to quickly'justify each line with precision.

' with a hub 38 fastened as by a screw 33 upon the bearing member 24' of the bracket in which the shaft 35 is journaled. The dividing discll is provided with several circular concentric rows of division points, here shown as comprising de- 7 pressions 3, 9, Ill, II and I2- (see Fig. 6), those of each circular row being spaced equidistant but the number of depressions in each circular row being different from them of'the other rows and corresponding respectively to the number of spaces in the written lines. The number of circular rows of depression and the numv ber of depressions in a circular row may be varied to suit the requirements and six or more rows may be employed, but for the purpdses of illus-. tration, five circular rows of depression have been illustrated. In the form illustrated, the outermost circular row contains twelve depressions which correspond with twelve spaces between the words of a line, the next row contains eleven depressions which correspond with eleven spaces in a line, and so on down to the innermost row which contains eightdepressions which correspond with eight spaces in a line. With the dividing disc shown, lines containing from eight to twelve spaces between words can bu y accurately iustifled.

The distance between the depressions of given row determines thepart of a circle, or

t'ated from one depression in a given row to the next one insucces'sion' therein. and determines the required fraction of' a space which the es-.

capement rack is moved; The dividing disc 7 serves as an indicator for the attende ant how many degrees or ofa circle he has turned the rotator,' and. as a consequence, how many degrees or parts of a circle he has turned the mitre pinion 32 andexactly how far he has shifted the escapement rack l1.

The rotator is formed with a series of radially aligned apertures 3 3'', l3", II and I2 (see 7 Fig. 5) corresponding in number'to the number of rows of depression in the dividing disc, and spacedapart the same distance (in an axial direction from the center of the rotator) as the depressions in the dividing disc. Confined in said-apertures are must, 3, II, II and II which are of a greater diameter thanthe thickness of the web of the rotator, thus permitting the balls to enter the depressions in the dividing disc whenever they come into register with them, and also to project above the top of the rotator. Any one ball and its associated depressionsin the dividing disc act to indicate and to deter- V mine the arcs or parts of a circle through which tion of a space through which the escapement rack has been adjusted each time the rotator has been turned from one depression in the dividing disc to the next adjacent one, regardless of which ball is the operative one.

By turning the rotator, all of the balls are moved through concentric circles, riding on the flat surface portions of the dividing disc and dropping into the depression thereof as they register with them. In a complete revolution of the rotator, the outermost ball enters twelve depressions, the ball H enters eleven depressions .and' so on down to the ball 8 which enters eight depressions. From this it will be understood that if it is necessary to shift the escapement rack one-twelfth part of a space at each of the twelve spaces between the words of the line, the rotator is turned one-twelfth part of a circle at each space between the words of the line. The means for indicating to the attendant the exact points at which the rotator must be stopped will now be described.

Rotatably mounted on 'an upstanding hub 40 of the rotator is the division setter 39 which rests upon one of the balls and upon the rotator and as a preference is let into a countersink in the upper face thereof. The lower face of the division setter is flat and contains several circular concentric rows of depressions 8, 9, I0 ii and l2 (see Fig. 4), which, if desired, may be in the form of shallow grooves that register with the apertures in the rotator and permit the balls to roll freely. There are as many concentric rows of depressions or grooves as there are balls in the rotator, five being shown. On the bottom face of the division setter, in line with thesevferal depressions, are flat areas, one for each ball, and designated by the characters 8 9 Hi li and it (see Fig. 4) and-arranged so that no two flat areas occupy places in one and the same radial line. These fiat areas are arranged so that only one. at a time can be moved upon an associated ball in the rotator. The purpose of the flat areas is to cause the ball underneath it to be forcibly depressed into a depression in the dividing disc with a clicking sound, and to be releasably held therein, thus indicating to the attendant the location of the places where he must stop the rotator when adjusting the escapement rack. By reference to Fig. 2 it will be seen that the flat area [2 of the division setter is held down upon the ball I2 by the weight of the division setter and also the spring 41 and that the remaining balls enter the other depressions in the division setter. This position of the parts is alsoindicated in Figs. 3 to 6 inclusive. If the rotator is rotated, all of the balls, except ball i2, will be freely moved past the depressions in the dividing disc, but the ball l2 will be forcibly pushed into the depressions I2 of the dividing disc and will be held therein with some force, thereby preventing any accidental movement of the rotator after it has been rotated through the proper distance. Whichever ball is pressed down will act in the same manner and will stop the rotator at the divisions of a circle for which the division setter has been set.

The division setter is provided with a knob 42 by which it is manipulated and the disc part 4: of the division setter desirably'has a sloping or conical face 44 on which is a scale composed of graduation marks 8, 9, in, II' and I2 (or as many as may be required) which cooperate with a mark "0" on the rotator (see Fig. 3) to indicate which flat area on the division setter is in pressing contact with a ball in the rotator. Desirably, the division setter is pressed downwards by a coiled compression spring 41 contained in a cavity in the knob and interposed between a flange 46 formed on the internal face of the knob and lock nuts 48 which are threadedly mounted on a threaded stem 49 formed on and projecting from the end of the shaft 35. The division setter is releasably locked to the rotator so as to rotate therewith when the division setter has been set to bring about the required divisions or fractions of a space that are to be added to the spaces between the words. As shown, a pin 56 is fastened in the rotator at a place desirably diametrically opposite the row of balls therein and said pin is arranged to enter any one of a series of sockets 51 formed in the division setter and disposed at places diametrically opposite the flat areas above mentioned (see Fig. 4). To set the division setter at any required place, the attendant takes hold of the knob, lifts the division setter far enough to disengage it from the pin,

and turns it until the required graduation mark on the dial registers with the zero mark on the rotator. The socket 51 corresponding with the flat area which has been brought over the required ball is then in register with the pin 56 and by releasing the division setter, the spring forces it down upon the ball under the fiat area and connects the division setter with the rotator through the pin and socket arrangement, thus coupling the two to move together as a unit.

It will be'understood that when the division setter has been lifted far enough to disengage the pin from the socket in which it was seated, the division setter may be rotated without disturbing the balls and, when moved to any position designated by a graduation mark on the dial, the required fiat area on the division setter will be pressed against the ball thereunder. With the division setter locked to the rotator, the latter may be rotated until the ball, which is engaged by the division setter, is forced into the first depression it encounters, which position is indicated to the attendant by a clicking sound and also by the resistance occasioned by the ball entering the depression in the dividing disc. The movement of the rotator through this definite arc of a circle causes the escapement rack to be adjusted the required fraction of a space.

The operation of the line justifying mechanism is, as follows:

' Assuming that the escapement rack is located a in a position as far as it will go to the left in Fig. 2,--to adjust the escapement rack to the right, the attendant lifts the division setter and turns it, bringing the graduation mark therein, which corresponds with the number of spaces in a given line, into register with the zero mark on the rotator. For instance, if there are twelve spaces in the line and one space to be filled in, he turns it until the graduation mark i2 registers with the zero mark and releases the' division setter, permitting the pin 56 to lock it to the rotator. setter upon ball i2, leaving the rest of the balls free. After writing the first word of the line, the attendant moves the rotator (with the division This brings flat area. i2 of the division setter locked thereto) in the direction of the arrow shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 5 until he feels the ball I! engage the first succeeding depression I2! in the dividing disc. There being twelve depressions in this row, the rotator has been moved one-twelfth part of a circle. The shaft 35 being rigid with the rotator, the shaft has been rotated one-twelfth part of a circle and, consequently, the intermeshing beveled pinions have been moved through the same are of a circle, and the spindle 26 and escapement rack I! have been moved to the right one-twelfth part of the width of a space, thereby permitting the carriage spring to move the carriage, when the space bar is fully depressed, one-twelfth part of a space more than it would normally move the carriage.

With a line containing twelve spaces between words and one space to be filled in, the attendant advances the rotator one step at each of the twelve spaces, thereby moving the escapement rack to the right, a distance equal to the width the stationary dividing disc.

of one space as determined by the escapement mechanism. Movement of the rotator to the twelfth and last step completes a three hundred sixty degree movement of the rotator which brings it to the zero point.

When a line contains more than one space to be filled in, then instead of turning the rotator only one step at a time, he turns it two or more steps, depending on the number of spaces that are to be filled in. For instance, if the line is short two spaces, the attendant turns the rotator two steps each time; if the line is three spaces short, he turns the rotator three steps each time, and so on. In other words, the rotator is turned each time the number of steps that correspond with the number of spaces to be filled in in any given line.

In writing the next line, the attendant sets the division setter to correspond with the number of spaces in that line and proceeds as before. Inasmuch as the spindle is moved to the right, it is necessary to turn the rotator back occasionally and thereby shift the escapement rack back.

A look nut 50 threaded on the stem 49 and bearing against the end of the hub 40 of the rotator holds the latter in neat contact with the stationary dividing disc. For the purpose of releasably holding the rotator stationary during the act of setting the division setter, a spring-pressed latch or shoe 5| is provided, which enters a notch 52, formed in the periphery of the rotator at the zero point, that is, the zero place from which the rotator is turned in commencing to justify any line. The latch 5| may be housed in a housing 53, here shown as having an arm 54, secured to A coiled compression spring 55 in the housing urges the latch or shoe against the peripheral edge of the rotator and forces the latch or shoe into the notch when the rotator reaches the zero point. The end edges of the notch may be beveled off to enable the rotator to be easily moved out of the locking engagement with the latch.

In Fig. 7, a work copy 60 is shown which may be used by the attendant to determine how much each written line must be lengthened or shortened to bring the last letter thereof into vertical alignment with the last letter of the other lines printed or to be printed. On this work copy are vertical ruled lines 6|, spaced apart exactly the same distance as the width of the spaces permitted by the escapement mechanism. Numerals at the top of the spaces between the lines 6| indicate spaces.

' cal line 82 determines'the beginning of the written lines.

Written lines of the body of the written matter 5 are indicated graphically at 63, and the spaces between the words at 64. The last letter of the top line is indicated as falling in the space column marked 2, the last letter of the second line falling in the column marked 3, and the last letter of the third line falling in the column marked 5.

To prepare the work copy, the attendant writes the body of the subject matter on the work copy, as usual, and then observes the number of spaces between the words of each line and the number of spaces the line is short of its required length. This data he sets down opposite the ends of the lines. For instance, if the first line has eight spaces and must be lengthened out one space, the attendant writes 8 opposite the end of the first line and marks X or any other symbol in dicating that the line must be lengthened one space. If the line must be lengthened more than one space, he marks anX for each space.

With the work copy filled out, the attendant rewrites the subject matter with the aid of the line justifying device, thereby making all of the lines of exactly the same length.

In rewriting the subject matter represented by the work copy shown, the attendant observes that there are eight spaces in the first line and that it must be lengthened out one space and, therefore, he turns the division setter until the graduation mark 8 thereof registers with the zero point on the rotator. At the end of each word written, he turns the rotator until the ball 8 enters the first depression 8 in the dividing disc it encounters.

The second line also has eight spaces but it must be lengthened two spaces, therefore, at each space the attendant moves the rotator two steps, thereby increasing the Width of each space a distance equal to two-eighths of the width of a standard space, and, consequently, he rotates the rotator through two complete revolutions for the line.

The location of the setting mechanism may be altered as desired, and the graduation marks may be placed on the rotator, which, if desired, may be attached directly to the screw actuating member.

It is to be observed that the setting mechanism is visible to the operator, thus facilitating accuracy and ease of manipulation. Furthermore, the operator may use his judgment in manipulating the rotator and vary the widths of the spaces, as by stopping the rotator before it reaches a division point or by moving it past the same, provided he makes one complete rotation for any given line. Moreover, precision in word spacing or letter spacing is obtained with ease and quick- 13, which factors are important in a device of this kind.

More or less variation of the exact details of construction is possible without departing from the spirit of this invention. I desire, therefore,

positively connected thereto, means to adjust the escapement rack along the length of the carriage, including a rotator, operative connections between the escapement rack and rotator, a dividing disc stationarily mounted on the carriage and having concentric rows of depressions, those of each row being spaced equidistantly, indicating means carried by the rotator adapted to register with corresponding depressions, and division setting means cooperating with the rotator.

2. In line justifying mechanism, the combination of a carriage, an escapement rack slidably mounted thereon, a bracket secured to the carriage', a screw operatively connected with the escapement rack and slidably but non-rotatively mounted in said bracket, a rotatable member threadedly engaged with said screw and rotatively mounted in said bracket, means to prevent endwise movement of the rotatable threaded member, a stationary dividing disc mounted on the bracket and a rotator operatively connected to said rotatable threaded member, said rotator having indicator means cooperating with the dividing disc to indicate equidistant arcs of rotation of the rotator.

3. In line justifying mechanism, the combination of a carriage, an escapement rack slidably mounted thereon, a bracket secured to the carriage, a screw operatively connected with the escapement rack and slidably mounted in said bracket, a rotatable threaded member threadedly engaged with said screw and rotatably mounted in said bracket, means to preventendwise movement of the rotatable threaded member, a stationary dividing disc mounted on the bracket, said dividing disc having concentric rows of division points, those of each row being equidistant and corresponding to spaces between words in a line of written matter and the number of division points in the several rows increasing progressively from the innermost row to the outermost one, and a rotator operatively connected to said rotatable threaded member, said rotator having select-- able indicating means cooperating with the several rows of division points on the dividing disc to indicate equidistant stopping places for the rotator, and a division setter cooperating with the rotator and having means to select any selectable indicating means on the rotator.

4. In line justifying mechanism, the combination of a carriage, an escapement rack slidably mounted thereon, a bracket secured to the carriage, a screw operatively connected with the escapement rack and slidably mounted in said bracket, a rotatable threaded member threadedly engaged with said screw and rotatably mounted in said bracket, means to prevent endwise movement of the rotatable threaded member, a stationary dividing disc mounted on the bracket, said dividing disc having concentric rows of depressions, those of each row being equidistant and corresponding to spaces between words in a line 01' written matter and the number of division points in the several rows increasing progressively from the innermost row to the outermost one, a' rotator operatively connected to said rotatable threaded member, said rotator having a series of radially disposed balls projecting above and below the rotator and selectively cooperating with the several rows of depressions in the dividing disc to indicate equidistant stopping places for the rotator, and a rotatable division setter cooperating with the rotator and having means to selectively press against any ball in the rotator, and

having also concentric depressions to permit the balls to move freely therein.

5; In line justifying mechanism, the combination of a carriage, an escapement rack slidably mounted thereon, a bracket secured to the car- 'riage, a screw operatively connected with the escapement rack and slidably mounted in said bracket, a rotatable threaded member threadedly engaged with said screw and rotatably mounted in said bracket, means to prevent endwise movement of the rotatable threaded member, a stationary dividing disc mounted on the bracket, said dividing disc having concentric rows of depressions, those of each row being equidistant and.

corresponding to spaces between words in a line of written matter and the number of division points in the several rows increasing progressively from thelinnermost row to the outermost one, a

rotator operatively connected to said rotatable threaded member, said rotator having a series of radially disposed balls, projecting above and below the rotator and selectively cooperating with the several rows of depressions in the dividing disc to indicate equidistant stopping places for the rotator, and a rotatable, spring-pressed division setter cooperating with the rotator and having means to selectively press against any ball in the rotator, and having also concentric depressions to permit the balls to move freely therein,

there being cooperating locking means on the rotator and division setter to lock the division setter to the rotor in any selected position of the division setter.

'6. In line justifying mechanism for typewriters and the like, an escapement rack slidably mounted on the typewriter carriage and positively connected thereto so as to move in unison therewith for normal spacing when writing words, and an adjustment mechanism for said escapement rack, wholly mounted on the carriage and embodying audible indicating means having vseveral rows of graduated indicia corresponding to the number of spaces between the words of typewritten lines, and manually operated rack adjusting mechanismhaving means cooperating with said several rows of graduated indicia whereby to adjust the escapement rack through uniform selectable distances relative to the carriage at the spaces between the words of a line.

7. In line justifying mechanism, the combination of a carriage and its escapement rack, the latter being slidably mounted on the carriage but positively connected thereto whereby to move in unison therewith when writing words, means to adjust the escapement rack along the length of the carriage, including a rotator, and operative connections between the escapement rack and rotator whereby each complete rotation of the rotator adjusts the escapement rack a distance ,equal to the width of one word space, and a dividing disc stationarily mounted on the carriage, said dividing disc having several circular concentric rows of division points which divide each circular row into equidistant division points, the division points progressively increasing in number from the innermost row to the outermost one, and corresponding in number to predetermined numbers of word spaces in typewritten lines, there being coacting audible indicating means between the rotator and dividing disc to indicate equidistant parts of a circle, through which the rotator is rotated when adjusting the esca ement rack.

DANIEL A. ROBERTS. 

